Method of and apparatus for presenting plays and the like



Mar. 20,1923;

' E. A. WELLMAN.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING PLAYS AND THE LIKE.

Z SHEETS-SHEET Y- HLED DEC. 6 1919- Mar; 20, 1923. 11,449,076.

E. A. WELLMAN. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRESENTING PLAYS AND THE LIKE.

FILED DEC. 5, I919. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

g? @51 4 mm Patented filer, i923 EMILY ANN VJELLMAN, 91" NEW YQRK, N. Y.

IQIETHOD OF AND APPARATUS F03 PRESENTING PLAYS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed December 6, 1919.

To all to 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, EMILY ANN VVELL- 3mm, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Presen ng! Plays and the like, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for the presentation of plays, pantomimes, and the like, upon a theatrical stage. A further object of the invention is to make possible the use of a greater number of scenes in a play than has heretofore been attempted. within a given period; to accomplish this easily and gracefully and without the consciousness of effort on the part of the audience, without the distraction of noises due to the shifting of cumbersome scenery, prop erties and the like, and without the arti ficia'lity of obvious effects, such as the lowering of drops, the drawing of curtains, etc. In general, one plan upon which the invention may be carried into effect is as follows:

Extending around a substantial portion of the available area of a stage (and by available area, I mean the portion which normally and with the usual front curtain raised is observable from the body of the theatre) is a curtain, screen, drop or the like (hereinafter termed a curtain), the forward portion of the area so partially enclosed being open in the direction of the body of the house. Projecting from such curtain inwardly toward the centre of the partially enclosed space are movable and preferably collapsible wings, and by collapsible here is meantthat the same maybe removed from their position of inward projection by any suitable means, as by moving them into parallelism with the curtain, folding them within narrow compass or removing them entirely behind the curtainv In their position of inward projection, these wings have the effect of subdividing the space available for the presentation of plays into a series of separated areas, hereinafter termed compartments, in each or certain of which light and portable scenery, properties, etc, may be erected or placed, the same being concealed, however, by such wings until it is desired to present the same,

For'the curtain'and for the wings, I preferably employ a dark,- light-absorbing mate Serial No. 342,959.

rial, for example, black velvet. Both curtain and wings may be formed of this mateial, suspended from overhead supports, or they may be rigid if desired; the advantage of the former being that the loose lower edge of both the curtain and the wings, and more particularly of the latter, is more readily adjustable, which'is desirable when it becomes necessary to draw the same over mechanical properties, such as tables, chairs and the like, whose proper disposition in the space requires them to project beyond the area limited by the wings in their normal position.

Thus if, for example, the available area upon the stage be divided into five compartments, a scene may be set up in each comment, all or all but one of these being concealed in the manner stated. An electric projector, of suitable character and power and having the usual diffusing device, is arranged adjacent to each end of the curtain, preferably so that each may illuminate the central area and the compartments in proximity to the opposite side of the curtain. In presenting a play, the usual stage curtain is raised, the house, including the stage, be-

dark. Qne of the projectors picks up one of the prearranged. scenes (from in front of which the concealing wing has been removed), which alone is illuminated. This remains illuminated during the presentation, including dialogue, etc., if the play be of this character. At the conclusion of the scene, the area in question is darkened by obscuring the light, an another scene in another compartment (from which the wing has been removed) is illuminated, either by the same or the opposite light, so that the play proceeds practically without intermission and yet with the usual changes of scene, as well as change, if desired, in the players. The scenery employed is portable and placed in the various compartments by "means of openings through the curtain,

which openings may also serve as the means of ingress and egress of the players. 'Preferably, background scenes are portrayed on light folding frames, adapted to be placed in position folded and then quickly opened to the position in which they are to be displayed. Preferably also, the folding portions of said scenes which will be nearest the audience when folded are, like the curtain and wings, of dark and light=absorbing material,'such as black velvet; By the proper manipulation of the projectors, one or an-- other area or compartment may be illuminated at will, the rest of the stage being obscured. Also, while one area or compartment is being utilized, the scenery, properties,etc., in another may be changed or, if desired, wholly removed, and other scenery and properties substituted therefor.

A practicable method of carrying out the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating curtain, wings, scenery,

projectors, etc, as above referred to;

ure 2 is a partial elevation on the line.2-2 of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a partial elevation of the opposite end of the curtain, looking in the direction of the arrows eferring to these drawings, 1 indicates a bow-shaped frame, here shown as construct ed of tubing connected by suitable unions 2. This frame is hung from the fiies in any suitable manner, as by ropes 3, of whlch there may be any desired number. From this frame depends what I have termed generically the curtain, 4:. This is here shown as secured to the frame 1 by rings 5. Said curtain, as above stated, is preferably of black velvet, hanging in loose folds, its lower edge being in contact with the stage. 6, 6 designate tubular supports, upon which the (black velvet) wings may be mounted, as by means of rings. These are pivoted at 7 upon a suitable casting carried by the frame 1 and may be moved into the fullline position in which they are illustrated or into a position practically parallel with the curtain (as, for instance, thatshown in dotted lines in Figure. 1), and this may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as by direct pressure or in the manner disclosed in the drawing, this involving the use of a, sheave 8 for eachof the supports 6,

. such sheave beingoperable from behind the curtain by means. of a cord 9. It is, of course, apparent that instead of this, the supports 6 may have their free ends both swung and operated from the flies.

Adjacent to the forward ends of the our taln 4, I arrange additional wings, which are preferably jointed, as shown. These comprise tubular supports 10 and 11, pivotedat 12, the distant end of the support 11 being also pivoted at 13 upon a suitable cast mg carried by the framev 1. As with respect to the supports6, the supports 10 and 11 may be either carried andmoved from the flies or by hand by means'back ofthe T curtain. 4:. T have here shown each of the pivots: 12 as associated with a sheave l4, and each of the pivots 13 asassociated with a sheave 15.-said sheaves being connected the cord 16 and both being operated by the. cord .17 from back of the curtain.

.As will be seen, the arrangement of wings above described divides the area partially enclosed by the curtain 4 into four compartments, which are available for the presentation of scenes, and in addition to thls, also available for the same purpose, there is the back stage area, as well as the up stage area. Any one of these areas may be picked out by the projectors 18, 19, or one of them. It will also be seen that when one such area is thus illuminated, the others may be concealed, or, if preferred, unoccupied by scenery, properties and the like and forming, therefore, black background,

At 20, Figure 1, I have indicated port-able scenery, here shown as consisting of a back 21, sides 22, and front members 23, the latter being hinged to the sides 22 and the sides to the back 21.

The background may i be displayed either by painting or attachment upon the innerv surfaces of all of the parts 21, 22, 23, and preferably the outer .surfaces of the parts 22, 23 will be covered This portable background, as I jacent to each of the several areas or compartments. On being introduced in folded form, the sides, or, if provided withends, both the sides and ends, may be quickly opened out to full extent or such lesser degree as may be desired.

It should be understood thatthe upper portion of the apparatus described, including the supports for the curtains, wings, etc, will be covered, by the usual drop curtain, and that the ends of the curtain, as well as the projectors, will be obscured from the body of the theatre by the usual drop legs.

The use of the wings as above described permits of the fullest utilization of the area at command and with the minimum intervals between scenes. For example, scenes may be set up in certain of the areas or compartments, one of these illuminated and immediately upon the conclusion of the act the lights shifted to another. Also, while the act at such latter point is in, progress the scenery may be shifted or changed in the compartment formerly used. Both of the opposite compartments between the wings may be closed off by bringing, for example, the wings 6, 10 and 11 together, so as to completely enclose the area between them and thus make possible a scenemid-stage. Or such scene may be located back stage or up stage, no scenein any casebeing interfered 1. The method. of presenting plays and the like upon an immovable stage, which consists in setting up discrete scenes at different maovze portions of the area at command and Which area is normally open to View from the body of the theatre, and, the stage being dark, temporarily concealing all of said scenes save one, illuminating said last-named scene, concealing that scene and illuminating another, and simultaneously setting up another scene at another point of said area and simultaneously obtaining scenic effects.

2. The method of changing scenic and setting effects in the presentation of plays and the like upon an immovable stage, which consists in settin up on said stage a plurality of sets so as to be simultaneously present thereon, and adapted, when selectively illuminated, to present to view different scenic and settin eifects, and successively and selectively illuminating and obscuring different ones or". said sets to change the scenic and setting effects presented to view.

3. In stage apparatus, the combination of a dark, light-absorptive curtain extending around the back and sides of a stage area, dark, light absorptive movable Wings adapted to conceal separate subdivisions of said area, and light-projectors positioned and adapted to illuminate one or another of said subdivisions, selectively, the Wings used in connection therewith being moved to nonobstructive positions.

4. In stage apparatus, the combination of a dark, light-absorptive curtain extending around the back and sides of a stage area, and movable Wings, faced on at least one side With dark material, projecting from points adjacent said curtain into said area, said Wings being adapted to conceal separate subdivisions of said area.

5. In stage apparatus, the combination of a dark, light-absorptive curtain extending around the back and sides of a stage area, and Wings, pivotallv mounted at points adjacent to said curtain, projecting from points adjacent said curtain into said area, said Wings being adapted to conceal separate subdivisions of said area.

6. In stage apparatus, the combination of a dark, light-absorptive curtain extending around the back and sides of a stage area, and movable Wings projecting from points adjacent said curtain into said area, said wings being adapted to conceal separate subdivisons of said area, and said curtain being provided With openings through which scenery may be directly introduced into said subdivisions.

7. In stage apparatus, the combination of a dark, light-absorptive curtain extending around the back and sides of a stage area, and movable Wings, projecting from points adjacent said curtain into said area, said Wings being adapted to conceal separate subdivisions of said area, and means operable from behind said curtain for moving said Wings into and out of position for concealing such subdivisions.

This specifications signed and witnessed this 5th day of December, 19 19.

EMILY ANN WELLMAN. Witnesses:

S. O. EDMUNDS, I. MoIN'rosH.

Gertificate of Correction. 7 It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,4 l9,07 6 granted March 20, 1923, upon the application of Emily Ann W ellman, of New York, N. Y., for an improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Presenting Plays and the-like, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 92, for the Word an read and; page 2,1ine 129, claim 1, after the Word like insert the Words and simultaneously obtaining scenic efl'ects; page 3 ,lines 8 and 9, same claim, strike out the words and simultaneously obtaining scenic effects; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

1 Signed and sealed this 1st day of Ma y, A. D., 1923.

[SEAL] KARL FENNING, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

